It's like the English cricketers getting MBEs and OBEs and stuff when they won the Ashes in 2005. And then the very next Ashes they got demolished 5-0.

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I would have been shocked if he hadn't ended up w/a Knighthood and so would have many others from various sites I've read and seen the last few weeks. It's not so much he only won it once, but he's the first British Cyclist to *ever* win the TdF. Add on that Olympic Gold Medal won only a couple of weeks later and...No big surprise to that announcement really.

I would have given it to Wiggins not only because he was the first to win from the UK but also because he did it cleanly and brought some much needed positive publicity to the tour as the negative Armstrong news hung around like a bad cold.

I would have given it to Wiggins not only because he was the first to win from the UK but also because he did it cleanly and brought some much needed positive publicity to the tour as the negative Armstrong news hung around like a bad cold.

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Cadel Evans did it cleanly and was the first Australian to bring it home. He's still just regular Cadel Evans.

Even an OBE/MBE whatever I could understand. But straight to knighthood?

Cadel Evans did it cleanly and was the first Australian to bring it home. He's still just regular Cadel Evans.

Even an OBE/MBE whatever I could understand. But straight to knighthood?

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It isn't straight to knighthood as he was already a CBE from the 2008 Honours list due to winning medals in 3 consecutive olympics (2000, 2004 and 2008) - 3 golds, 1 silver and 2 bronzes. The Knighthood was the next one he could get and as he won the Tour and followed it up with a gold at London 2012 it was fairly clear he was going to become a Sir this time around!!

Well done to him and all the other honourees from both the Olympics and all other walks of life

ETA: Mo Farrah is the one who went from nothing to the highest something - a CBE - which was also well deserved. Most people start with an MBE, then OBE, then CBE finally finishing with a Damehood or Knighthood. All those who became a Dame or a Knight were all CBE's prior to their new honour. Andy Murray jumped in with an OBE - but most honourees are either being upgraded or starting with an MBE.

Cadel Evans did it cleanly and was the first Australian to bring it home. He's still just regular Cadel Evans.

Even an OBE/MBE whatever I could understand. But straight to knighthood?

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Can Aussies be knighted? Canadians can't. That's not a British rule, it's a Canadian one. It became big news when Conrad Black was given a life peerage. Basically if he wanted to accept, he had to give up his Canadian citizenship. He did. Now he wants it back ... so sorry, Connie! (He also had his Order of Canada rescinded after he was convicted of fraud. Poor boo boo.)

ETA: Mo Farrah is the one who went from nothing to the highest something - a CBE - which was also well deserved. Most people start with an MBE, then OBE, then CBE finally finishing with a Damehood or Knighthood. All those who became a Dame or a Knight were all CBE's prior to their new honour. Andy Murray jumped in with an OBE - but most honourees are either being upgraded or starting with an MBE.

Can Aussies be knighted? Canadians can't. That's not a British rule, it's a Canadian one. It became big news when Conrad Black was given a life peerage. Basically if he wanted to accept, he had to give up his Canadian citizenship. He did. Now he wants it back ... so sorry, Connie! (He also had his Order of Canada rescinded after he was convicted of fraud. Poor boo boo.)

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As I understand it, there's a difference between being named a life peer and being given an honourary (for lack of a better word) knighthood. Life peers get to sit in the House of Lords and have a vote there. Those named as knights in the Queen's Honours List don't become part of the House of Lords.

I was only looking at the olympian/para-olympian list so didn't see Kate Bush's award. I must admit to being surprised by it as she has been very quite in the last few years - but congrats to her none the less - she has had a major impact on the music scene and her music was part of the sound track to my late teens and early to kid 20's - Wuthering Heights still a huge favourite of mine!!

It isn't straight to knighthood as he was already a CBE from the 2008 Honours list due to winning medals in 3 consecutive olympics (2000, 2004 and 2008) - 3 golds, 1 silver and 2 bronzes. The Knighthood was the next one he could get and as he won the Tour and followed it up with a gold at London 2012 it was fairly clear he was going to become a Sir this time around!!
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He's been a real leader in the emergence of Great Britain as a cycling powerhouse both on the track and on the road. He's had a lengthy career on the track with 6 world championships and 6 Olympic medals o over 3 Olympics plus he not only won the Tour but did it on a team organized in large part to promote British cycling. And then he added another Olympic gold on the road at yet another Olympics. I'm not his biggest fan, but I can't fault his credentials or his contributions to British cycling,

As I understand it, there's a difference between being named a life peer and being given an honourary (for lack of a better word) knighthood. Life peers get to sit in the House of Lords and have a vote there. Those named as knights in the Queen's Honours List don't become part of the House of Lords.

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The law on the books in Canada specifically cites "titular honours": knighthoods, peerages, and baronetcies. So a Canadian can receive a MBE / OBE / CBE, but not a knighthood or "above."

However it's one of those rather fluid laws that seems to be somewhat open to the whims of whoever is in power at the time. It was only because Chrétien actively objected to Black's peerage that it was an issue.

It also only tends to be an issue for people who hold dual citizenship. Since I strongly oppose dual citizenship ... I'm perfectly okay with that. (But that's a whole other thread!)

Cadel Evans did it cleanly and was the first Australian to bring it home. He's still just regular Cadel Evans.

Even an OBE/MBE whatever I could understand. But straight to knighthood?

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Ok--I am confused about who gets what. I think you make a good argument for Evans and Austrailia is part of the Commonwealth (right?) so he should be awarded. Who can and cannot be bestowed with these honors?

Liz Littler was the Event Director for the European Championships and all the John Curry Junior Grand Prix in Sheffield and does all the work in the UK (on the link) on a voluntary basis to protect her eligibility with NISA so she can still judge.She was also the NISA Judges and Officials Director until May 2012.

Ok--I am confused about who gets what. I think you make a good argument for Evans and Austrailia is part of the Commonwealth (right?) so he should be awarded. Who can and cannot be bestowed with these honors?

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I think Australians can get on the Queen's list, but it's tricky and doesn't happen all that often. In fact, I don't even think Cadel got an OAM or anything for his achievement.

But my point was more laughing at the Poms who seem to award their sportsmen for the tiniest little deeds, though I certainly don't call a TdF tiny. It bemuses me that the first time they do something they are rushed to get an award, whereas with our honours lists, we tend to take it over time.

(And yes, we still dine out on the Poms being awarded MBEs/OBEs for winning the Ashes, including one batsman who played just one Test, and scored 7 and 11. And yes, he got an MBE too.)

Ok--I am confused about who gets what. I think you make a good argument for Evans and Austrailia is part of the Commonwealth (right?) so he should be awarded. Who can and cannot be bestowed with these honors?

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These days these honours are for Brits only. The Queen bestows orders on her subjects (or GGs do on her behave) in each individual country in which she is sovereign. For example, I can be awarded Companion, Officer or Member of the Order of Canada, not of the British Empire, simply because there is no empire anymore. But the queen still is Queen of Canada, (and Queen of Australia) even though she isn't queen of all commonwealth countries

Thanks for the explanations--it makes sense. I guess I happen to believe Wiggins's accomplishment was huge but that is just me.

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I agree with you - the Kighthood was bestowed for a body of his achievements over the past 10-15 years - so it isn't being bestowed for the first thing he has done.

But then the poster moaning about it is obviously bitter about something other than the honours we 'Poms' bestow on those who have achieved something in their lives!! I just hope they continue to enjoy their dining out - regardless that the current holders of the Ashes are the Poms having won it on Australian soil back in 2011 - but then I guess that is the issue

I agree with you - the Kighthood was bestowed for a body of his achievements over the past 10-15 years - so it isn't being bestowed for the first thing he has done.

But then the poster moaning about it is obviously bitter about something other than the honours we 'Poms' bestow on those who have achieved something in their lives!! I just hope they continue to enjoy their dining out - regardless that the current holders of the Ashes are the Poms having won it on Australian soil back in 2011 - but then I guess that is the issue

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I got that impression as well Lorac. Don't get what the problem is other than someone w/an axe to grind.

Speaking of Honours and Canada...The New Year's Order of Canada list has just been released and Paul Henderson is on in some manner. I'm guessing promotion w/in the Order. Will be back w/the list once I find it.

eta ~Found it over at the CBC and no wonder they've got it up so fast. Michael Enright has been named as a Member of the Order, as has Paul Henderson.

I agree with you - the Kighthood was bestowed for a body of his achievements over the past 10-15 years - so it isn't being bestowed for the first thing he has done.

But then the poster moaning about it is obviously bitter about something other than the honours we 'Poms' bestow on those who have achieved something in their lives!! I just hope they continue to enjoy their dining out - regardless that the current holders of the Ashes are the Poms having won it on Australian soil back in 2011 - but then I guess that is the issue

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Of course a Pom would see bemusement and amusement as moaning. They do nothing but whinge themselves.

At any rate, I have said, half a dozen times, that Wiggins' achievement is great. I do not demean it. It just amuses me that the Poms rush to honour little things. In Australia we wait many years and evaluate the body of work as a whole at its completion, normally.

Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button are both OBEs, I believe, as soon as their championships were won, but it took Sir Jack Brabham many years before he was recognised (and became Sir), and his feat is many, many, many times greater.

Though I grant that the Poms may have a chance at beating us if this current selection board is still in power by the next Ashes.

I'm surprised Paul Henderson wasn't already given the Order of Canada. Ken Dryden got promoted to Officer as well.

I think Michael Enright's award will cause a bit of a stir, seeing as how he dissed Catholicism a few years ago and ended up having to apologize for what he said.

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You and me both!! He's not in the Hockey Hall of Fame, but Tretiak is (deservedly I may add. Haven't got a problem at all w/one of the greatest goalies to ever play the game being in there, but considering just *how* important Paul's goal is to this Country and...Grrr!!!) I did a double take when I saw this wasn't a promotion w/in the Order and he's only being installed as a Member of it now.

Then again...If any GG was going to agree w/Paul finally being given at least one of two long overdue honours, it would be this GG.